The Nets have played two games vs. the Wizards, both in Washington, and they couldn't have been more different. In the first, a classic, Joe Johnson burned the Wiz, 115-113, with a buzzer beater at the end of a second overtime. In the second, the Nets scored 74 points in a loss.

Friday night, the game is in Brooklyn and there is an urgency to the Nets' motivation. If they don't win, their home losing streak will extend to four games. Not good. The Nets have one great advantage. The Wizards have won only five games on the road, the league's worst. (Ironically, the Nets just finished playing the Bobcats, who have the league's worst home record.)

The game could come down the shooting guard position. After recovering from a sore heel, Johnson finally looked good in Charlotte going 8-of-14 on his way to 22 points, but he and the Nets admitted he's not 100 percent and his heel needs to be monitored. On the Wizards side of the court, Bradley Beal is questionable. That could hurt the Wizards big time. The Wizards are 2-6 without the rookie, who had averaged 20.8 points in eight games prior to being carried off the court on Sunday.